GAA players were not subjected to blood testing

GAA: GAA PLAYERS were not subjected to the more stringent blood testing procedures carried out by the Irish Sports Council's anti-doping programme in 2010.

The annual anti-doping report released yesterday showed just three rule violations in 2010, resulting in the relevant sanctions, while 65 blood tests were carried out in five sports only: athletics, swimming, rugby, cycling and Paralympic athletics. Two new education initiatives were also launched: an iPhone App and an enhanced website.

A total of 979 tests were conducted across 37 sports in 2010 – including 755 urine tests and 65 blood tests under the National Programme, and 159 urine tests were conducted under the User Pays Programme.

The testing programme resulted in three rule violations, in the case of a motor racing driver, a women’s veteran athlete, and a soccer player, which resulted in sanctions of between two years and six months – and none of which were high-profile cases. There were also five additional adverse analytical findings: two were pending at the end of 2010, two were dealt with by the relevant international federation, and one was resolved through a Retrospective Therapeutic Use Exemption.

The Council completed its first out-of-competition blood test in 2010 and also conducted testing in competition. In total 65 blood tests were completed in five sports: athletics, swimming, rugby, cycling and Paralympic athletics.

These were targeted as “high risk” sports, and the GAA players were therefore not included, despite initial indications that they would be.

A total of 92 intercounty GAA players were still urine tested in 2010, with all of the tests returning a negative for signs of doping. It’s reported that 60 per cent of the tests were carried out after matches, with the other 40 per cent taking place when testers visited training sessions.

It was suggested this time last year GAA players would be subjected to the new blood-sampling methods for anti-doping. Such blood sampling was carried out in Ireland for the first time at the European Cross Country in Dublin in December 2009, and the success of that project opened the way for the wider introduction of such testing. The IRFU were among the first governing bodies in Irish sport to agree to the new methods, but it was decided to limit this testing to athletics, swimming, rugby, cycling and Paralympic athletics – which further develops the biological profiling of athletes by profiling both urine and blood samples.

Of the 755 urine tests conducted under the National Programme, 434 (59 per cent) tests were out-of-competition tests and 321 (41 per cent) tests were completed in-competition. Also, 47 out-of-competition tests were completed overseas by our contracted service provider, the Association of National Ant-Doping Organisations (ANADO).

The new, free, iPhone App will allow athletes check all medications against the WADA Prohibited List. The Med Check accesses the Eirpharm Drugs in Sport Database which will indicate if a substance is prohibited, a resource for everyone involved in sport. The list also indicates whether particular substances are banned in certain sports. The app allows the user to check their prescribed and over-the-counter medications, purchased in Ireland, against the WADA Prohibited List. The iPhone app is available free from the Apple iTunes Store by searching for the “Irish Sports Council” or “Medication Checker”.

The Anti-Doping Unit, with a budget of €1.16 million and a fulltime staff of four, is part of the executive of the Irish Sports Council. It reports to a specialist committee of the Council, the Anti-Doping Committee. Prof Brendan Buckley has been reappointed chairman of the committee.

2010 REPORT MAIN FINDINGS

979 tests across 37 sports.

755 urine tests and 65 blood tests were completed under the National Programme.

159 urine tests were conducted under the User Pays Programme.

434 (59 per cent) of tests were Out-of-competition.

321 (41 per cent) tests were completed In-Competition.

Three rule violations in 2010 resulted in sanctions.

65 blood tests were carried out in 5 sports.

New Education initiatives launched: New iPhone App and enhanced website.